If you have shopped or browsed antique or vintage Pottery or China & Dinnerware you have most likely come across crazing. Maybe you didn't know what it was called at the time but we will fix that now.
Crazing is a term used to reference fine cracks that can be found in the glaze of pottery or china. Crazing can be present in varying degrees. Sometimes items may have a couple of crazing lines on one side and not the other, other times the crazing can look like a spider web and cover the entire item. The cracks are very small and can usually not even be felt, rather just seen visually.
Someone looking for replacement china to complete a set or someone that collects pottery may frown upon crazing as it is an actual flaw in the item. Therefore items with crazing will usually sell to these types of buyers for less money than the same item without this phenomenon. On the other hand crazing creates a unique look that gives items an antique or vintage
Most people interested in pottery will tell you that McCoy Pottery is one of the best brands to go for. This this because it’s one of those brands that have been around for more than a century meaning that people have had ample time to ascertain the quality of individual McCoy Pottery pieces.
The McCoy Pottery brand was started around 1910 by a small partnership consisting of Nelson McCoy, J.W. McCoy and five other initial investors. It was evidently a good time to start such a business because it started turning a profit within a relatively short time. In order to increase reach and profitability, McCoy Pottery went into partnership with other pottery businesses and formed the American Clay Products company, a move that allowed sales to increase almost exponentially up until it was liquidated in 1926.
McCoy Pottery was evidently producing high quality pottery items since demand for even more unique pieces skyrocketed causing them to buy a better kiln a
Is there anything more beautiful than a production by McCoy Pottery? Since 1910, this company has been making flawless pots, planters, jars, etc. that have delighted people of all ages. However, when you are looking to add to your McCoy collection, you want to make sure that you are getting, well, the “real McCoy!” These tips will help you differentiate real McCoy pottery from the fakes.
Keep an eye out for the logo. Most genuine McCoy products have “McCoy USA” engraved on it. Many fakes only put “McCoy” on their products. Although some fakes might have “McCoy USA” on them, many do not, and this is a very simple way to tell authentic pieces from imitations.
Look for details! McCoy Pottery is known for their attention to the little things, be it vibrant paint colors or the generous glazing. They also make their pieces very detailed. If a piece looks overly simplistic, or features thin paintwork, it is probably a fake.